Ask a doctor - As a GP, can you prescribe medications for yourself?

Q. As a GP, can you prescribe medications for yourself?

Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.

Answered by Secondmedic Expert

No, a General Practitioner (GP) cannot prescribe medications for themselves or their immediate family members. This is in line with the ethical principles set out by the General Medical Council that all doctors must follow.

Prescribing medication for yourself or close family is considered an unacceptable use of professional power due to potential conflicts of interest that could arise between the doctor's personal and professional life. This could lead to poor decision making which would put both patient safety and doctor-patient confidentiality at risk.

However, while GPs are not permitted to directly prescribe medication to themselves, they may be able to seek medical advice from another registered GP if necessary. Before doing so though, it is important for them to consult with a colleague first who can provide impartial advice regarding treatment options before taking any action.

In certain circumstances where it would benefit the patient more than having them see a different doctor (for example in cases of time constraints), GP's can also contact specialists who can then provide second opinions on diagnoses and treatments plans as well as give additional information on drug interactions and side effects which isn't available from drug databases alone.

Ultimately, while GPs are trained professionals capable of providing expert medical care when needed - they still need to ensure they maintain ethical standards even when prescribing medication for themselves or those closest too them so as not cause any harm or damage to patients involved in their practice.